Ash Wednesday - Choral Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes - President/Preacher Revd Jo Nicholson

You will find the words of the hymns in the order of service below. Please do join in. And please - if you are able - consider making a contribution to the upkeep of this historic (1862) church and its maintenance of Anglican tradition in worship and music: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donor... OPENING HYMN: NEH 353 Dear Lord and Father of mankind 1. Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways! Re-clothe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives thy service find, In deeper reverence praise. 2. In simple trust like theirs who heard, Beside the Syrian sea, The gracious calling of the Lord, Let us, like them, without a word Rise up and follow thee. 3. O Sabbath rest by Galilee! O calm of hills above, Where Jesus knelt to share with thee The silence of eternity, Interpreted by love! 4. Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace. 5. Breathe through the heats of our desire Thy coolness and thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still small voice of calm! INTRODUCTION; COLLECT Old Testament Reading: Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17. “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5.20b - 6.10 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us … for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (GRADUAL) HYMN: NEH 358 Father of Heaven, whose love profound (tune: Rievaulx) 1. Father of heaven, whose love profound A ransom for our souls hath found, Before thy throne we sinners bend: To us thy pardoning love extend. 2. Almighty Son, incarnate Word, Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord, Before thy throne we sinners bend: To us thy saving grace extend. 3. Eternal Spirit, by whose breath The soul is raised from sin and death, Before thy throne we sinners bend: To us thy quickening power extend. 4. Thrice Holy! Father, Spirit, Son, Mysterious Godhead, Three in One, Before thy throne we sinners bend: Grace, pardon, life to us extend. Amen. Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” SERMON PRAYERS OF PENITENCE IMPOSITION OF ASHES PEACE OFFERTORY HYMN: NEH 339 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart 1. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, Be all else but naught to me, save that thou art, Be thou my best thought in the day and the night, Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light. 2. Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word Be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord, Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son, Be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. 3. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight, Be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might, Be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower, O raise thou me heav'nward, great Power of my power. 4. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Be thou my inheritance now and always, Be thou and thou only the first in my heart, O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art. 5. High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright Sun, O grant me its joys after vict'ry is won, Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER GIVING OF COMMUNION COMMUNION HYMN: NEH 70 Lord Jesus, think on me (tune: Southwell) 1. Lord Jesus, think on me And purge away my sin; From earthborn passions set me free, And make me pure within. 2. Lord Jesus, think on me, With care and woe opprest; Let me thy loving servant be, And taste thy promised rest. ... ... 6. Lord Jesus, think on me, That, when the flood is past, I may the eternal brightness see, And share thy joy at last. POST-COMMUNION PRAYER CLOSING HYMN: NEH 372 He who would valiant be 1. He who would valiant be 'Gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy Follow the Master. There's no discouragement Shall make him once relent His first avowed intent To be a pilgrim. 2. Whoso beset him round With dismal stories, Do but themselves confound -- His strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might, Though he with giants fight: He will make good his right To be a pilgrim. 3 Since, Lord, thou dost defend Us with thy Spirit, We know we at the end Shall life inherit. Then fancies flee away! I'll fear not what men say, I'll labour night and day To be a pilgrim. BLESSING and DISMISSAL